Gator Andre Debose eager to finally show he has NFL potential

Debose, a former Sanford Seminole High standout, has struggled to cope with coaching changes and injuries but is determined to close his UF career on a high note

(Don McPeak-US PRESSWIRE,…)

April 8, 2014|By Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel

GAINESVILLE — UF receiver Andre Debose does not sit around wondering where the time has gone.

He is well aware — sometimes down the minute.

It has been nearly six years since Debose arrived in Gainesville, or twice as long as he expected to be a Florida Gator. Along the way, Debose has worked with five wide receivers coaches, four offensive coordinators and endured two season-ending injuries.

"I'm definitely shocked I'm still here," Debose recently told the Sentinel. "I'm one of those guys that was thinking I'm out of here in three years [to the NFL.] Obviously, it didn't work out.

"I'm still fighting."

The injuries have been the biggest struggle.

Each day of recovery is a long, lonely process that given Debose plenty of time to think.

"I don't think I ever had the big head, but it definitely will bring you back down to earth," he said. "It will bring you to your senses having something as simple as walking and running taken from you, let alone playing football. When you're not able to do that and you're just bed ridden it sucks, man.

"That's something I can definitely see the change in with me, not taking being at Florida for granted. You have to take full advantage of your opportunities because your window is only so small."

Debose's window is open one final time.

Debose is recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee and is expected to play the upcoming season.

The former standout at Sanford Seminole hopes another opportunity is all he needs to live up to expectations, and, maybe, get a shot to play on Sundays.

"I feel like I still do have a chance," he said. "It's my goal, it's my dream, it's something I've always wanted to do. I'm going to give it all I got."

UF coach Will Muschamp has warned Debose he has to be careful to avoid letting anything derail his comeback. Debose was recently involved in an altercation during which he was thrown through a window and gunshots were fired by two people. Debose wasn't carrying a weapon and escaped without injury. Muschamp said Debose told him he understood he "was in a bad place and shouldn't have been there."

Debose has shown flashes on the field of what he can do when he is at his best.

In 2011, he had four touchdown catches of 64 yards or longer. The 5-foot-11, 194-pound Debose hold the school-record with four kickoff returns for touchdowns.

But those moments are rare highlights for a player who arrived with more hype than any member of the Gators' current roster.

In 2009, Debose was tabbed the 'next Percy Harvin' — a nod to the Gators' game-breaking legend. Debose had Harvin's speed and five-star billing, but a lingering hamstring injury suffered during high school track required surgery.

"I definitely wanted to come in and live up to all the hype," he said. "But having that injury and everything, it was kind of a blessing in disguise because I was kind of walking into someone else's shoes with Percy Harvin. I think when I had to have surgery it kind of mellowed everything out.

"I definitely wish I had come in and played but it didn't work out that way."

Debose will turn 24 the day before the Gators' SEC opener on Sept. 13 at home against Kentucky. Promising sophomore wide receivers Ahmad Fulwood and Demarcus Robinson are 19.

"Andre's biggest issues has been consistency in his performance, day in and day out, week in and week out, just showing up every day," Muschamp said.

But Muschamp began to see a change in Debose prior to the ACL tear last August. The day it happened, the Gators coach immediately called Debose's parents and told them he wanted to petition the NCAA for a sixth season.

"Anybody who has gone through an ACL, it's the real deal," Debose said. "It's an every-day challenge. Only the strong survive."

Debose is just glad to still be standing.

" I haven't played football for a long time," he said. "Just getting back there and running around on the grass is going to be a lot for me."